Consensus between govt, Left on N-deal possible-CPI

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today foresaw the possibility of a breakthrough in the impasse between the government and the Left parties on the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal, saying much would depend on the UPA attitude in the coming days.

"I don't rule out the possibility of evolving a consensus on the N Pact as the Manmohan Singh goverment is not a one party or single issue government.. this is a coalition government," said CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan at a press conference.

At the end of the two-day delibrations of the party 131-member National Council, preceded by a day-long National Executive, Mr Bardhan said the UPA, the Congress and the Prime Minister and the Left parties are entitled to have their respective view-point on the deal as ''ours is a democratic system.'' Mr Bardhan, the veteran communist and freedom fighter, replying to a specific query said attempt was being made to come to some understanding or find a solution to the conflicting views on the deal.

" They( UPA) are as eager as we are to see that dialogue between the government and the Left come to some findings. That is our concern as well," said the CPI leader adding that the government's response would be known on November 16 when the UPA- Left Political panel meets here.

To another question whether the relationship between the UPA and the Left had become smooth after Left leaders lauded Manmohan Singh's " unquestioned integrity", the CPI veteran made it clear that their opposition to the PM was not" personality based, but to his policies on economic, foreign affairs and the N deal." " As the Congress and the Left parties have different ideologies, so the conflicts and the contradictions will remain," Mr Bardhan added.

Answering another query, the CPI leader said the government did not talk to the Left parties before signing the 123 Agreement." We also knew about the government view point only during the debate in Parliament." He stressed that the Left oppostion to the N deal was based on its impact on country's foreign policy, security concerns and self sufficiency of nuclear programmes."The deal seems to be of more interest to the US than ours. This is why they are pressing India so hard to operationalise the deal. Never before have the US senior officials and diplomats offered so many allurements, issued threats and even used the blackmail tactics." On future Left action if the government insisted on carrying forward the deal, the CPI leader quipped," even as it is a speculative question, but all will depend on the government's response on November 16." On whether it would be " tough" stand, the CPI leader said he did not know it would be tough or not, but will definitely be in the interest of the people and the country.

On the ongoing Political committee's deliberations being described by a correspondent as a " mere drama," Mr Bardhan said," if fighting for the interests of the country is a drama, so be it." UNI